Oceanside Triathlon in the Winter Months--How About It?

I swam today (Saturday) at about 2:30 or 3 PM around the Oceanside Pier in a wide arc, a solid mile swim.  37 minutes with just trunks.  For the first time this winter my forehead and face hurt when I got into the water.  They got used to the cold in 5 minutes or so.  To me, the face-hurt/forehead hurt temperature is upper fifties Fahrenheit.  I'll check http://www.surfline.com/  now.

Well, they have it at 58 to 60 degrees.  I think it was the low end or lower with my face hurting today.  It was a different level of cold water than 2 days ago.  I swam north to south.  The waves were small to medium; I'd say 2 to 4 feet at the biggest sets.  The water past the surf zone was pretty flat-just a small chop to it out by the end of the pier area. 
It was hard to get a rhythm going with the cold.  I had to keep thinking to keep my fingers together and pull through, then push the water backward before I recovered my arms.  My fingers were frozen.  I had a few short spans coming in when I got a rhythm with the incoming water which were nice. 
I was dizzy afterward and rested on one knee for a few minutes in two-foot water; unfortunately I swallowed a big gulp of water as a wave smashed me at this time.  The water came back up immediately with a quick vomiting reaction-interesting how sea water makes one vomit instantly when swallowed.

So, how about a winter triathlon in Oceanside?  I'm sure there would be a turnout of cold water crazies.  Less crowded, different, and the bike & run afterward would warm up the participants.  Enough for now.

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Thursday Dec 1 Swim About 4 PM

I wish that I could take pictures that really convey the beauty and reality of the ocean conditions when I swim.  I have an old camera and I take photos from the parking lot or the sidewalk where the sand begins.  Thursday was really beautiful at the beach.  There have been windy conditions in Southern California and some easterly winds, but our winds here were moving from north to southeast, as far as I could tell.  It was chilly just standing at the beach, much less getting into the water on Thursday afternoon.
The waves were 2-4 feet, strong waves with very little interval between waves.  I immediately decided that I would wear fins when I saw the water.  The current was obviously running strong and south.  I'm still hanging with my swim trunks-holding off on the wet suit-but it's getting tougher.  Thursday I didn't remember to bring my good Speedo, warm swim cap; so I wore 3 cheapo swim caps.
I got in on the north side of the pier and the rip current was strong southward.  It was just medium difficulty kicking out through the surf.  I had a brisk swim around the pier.  The water temp was 58, I believe, and 58 is cold.  My swim was 26 1/2 minutes and I was trying to go fast to get it done.
There were lots of surfers out, though my pictures don't have enough pixels to show them.
Just a lively, cold swim, with lots of action from Mother Nature throwing me around (also the surfers).
I love the beach at the Oceanside Pier-and the winter is the best-except for those infrequent, beautiful, glassy, long summer swims.  But deep in my heart, I'm a winter swimmer kind of guy.

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Sunday Afternoon Swim

I swam the pier at about 3 PM Sunday.  The current was mild moving south-no fins needed.  The water was pretty cold-about 59 degrees.  I forgot my warm Speedo swim cap so I had to wear two inexpensive caps.  I really noticed the difference.  When I finished the swim I was dizzy and losing my balance.  Had to sit in the sand for 5 minutes.  Wonder if that was the cold?
The water was beautiful.  Totally flat.  The inside waves were on the small side.  The swim was 28 1/2 minutes. 

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."